Story of the encomiast who from regard for reputation was thanking the object of his praise, while the scent (signs) of his inward grief and pain and the shabbiness of his outward garb showed that those expressions of gratitude were vain and false.

آن یکی با دلق آمد از عراق ** باز پرسیدند یاران از فراق

A certain man came (home) from ‘Iráq, (clad) in a tattered cloak: his friends inquired concerning (his) separation (from them).

گفت آری بد فراق الا سفر ** بود بر من بس مبارک مژده‌ور1740

“Yes,” he replied; “there was (the sorrow of) separation, but the journey was very blessed and fortunate for me,

که خلیفه داد ده خلعت مرا ** که قرینش باد صد مدح و ثنا

For the Caliph gave me ten robes of honour—may a hundred praises and laudations (ever) accompany him!”

شکرها و حمدها بر می‌شمرد ** تا که شکر از حد و اندازه ببرد

He was reciting expressions of gratitude and praise till he carried gratitude beyond bound and limit.

پس بگفتندش که احوال نژند ** بر دروغ تو گواهی می‌دهند

Then they said to him, “Thy wretched guise bears witness to thy mendacity.